A fierce row erupted between Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso and his Atletico Madrid counterpart Diego Simeone during the Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Saudi Arabia, after the Argentine manager allegedly directed inappropriate remarks towards Vinicius Jr as the Brazilian left the field.
Alonso reacted furiously to whatever was said to his player, immediately confronting Simeone on the touchline during what became an ill-tempered Madrid derby.
The Real Madrid manager later accused Simeone of overstepping acceptable boundaries with his comments to the winger, though he refused to disclose the precise nature of what was said during the flashpoint incident.
Following the match, Alonso made clear his displeasure at Simeone’s conduct towards the 25-year-old forward.
“I heard what Simeone said to Vini, and I didn’t like it,” the Real Madrid manager stated.
“You cannot talk like that, some things cross the line. It’s unacceptable and it’s a lack of fair play.”
Despite his evident anger at the incident, Alonso chose not to reveal the specific words that had provoked such a strong reaction from him.
Vinicius Jr was a furious figure in Real Madrid’s win over Atletico Madrid
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The confrontation added significant tension to an already heated derby encounter, with the Real Madrid boss clearly feeling his player had been subjected to treatment that went beyond the normal boundaries of competitive football.
When questioned about the incident after the final whistle, Simeone opted not to elaborate on what had transpired between himself and the Brazilian forward.
“Vini Jr? I have nothing to say. Ever since my playing career, I’ve said that what happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch,” the Atletico manager remarked.
Vinicius Jr wasn’t happy with Diego Simeone 😬
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 8, 2026
Simeone also sought to emphasise his admiration for the opposition, adding: “I have a lot of respect for [Dani] Carvajal, for all Real Madrid players.
“I clearly told him what it looks like from the outside.”
The Argentine’s cryptic response did little to clarify the nature of his exchange with Vinicius Jr, leaving the precise details of the confrontation shrouded in mystery.
Real Madrid secured their place in the Spanish Super Cup final with a 2-1 triumph over their city rivals, courtesy of strikes from Rodrygo and a spectacular effort from Federico Valverde.
They will now face Barcelona in the showpiece match.
The incident involving Vinicius Jr comes against a backdrop of the forward’s troubled experiences in Spanish football.
Diego Simeone refused to elaborate on his chat with Vinicius Jr after Atletico Madrid’s defeat to Real Madrid
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Last May, five Valencia supporters received suspended sentences after being convicted of racially abusing the Brazil international, with the offences classified as hate crimes.
The Brazil international has reportedly faced nearly 20 separate incidents of racist abuse, including monkey chants during matches against Barcelona, Valencia and Real Mallorca.
There is currently no indication that Simeone’s comments were racist in nature.
Barcelona, meanwhile, reached the final with a 5-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao.
